Arms and ammunition seized in Kashmir

Two days ahead of Independence Day, security forces on Wednesday scuttled a probable militant plan to carry out an attack by seizing a large cache of arms and ammunition, including two assault rifles and a pistol, in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, police said on Wednesday.

Two days ahead of Independence Day, security forces on Wednesday scuttled a probable militant plan to carry out an attack by seizing a large cache of arms and ammunition, including two assault rifles and a pistol, in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, police said on Wednesday.

The recovery was made by a joint search party of the Rashtriya Rifles and police near Rakh Nallah (stream) in the general area of Khan Peth in Pattan, about 30 kms from here, last evening, a police officer said.

He said the arms and ammunition were kept in a polythene bag and burried underground.

Besides the three weapons, the search parties seized two AK magazines with 30 rounds, a pistol magazine with three rounds, two Improvised Explosive Device Circuits and a pouch, the officer said.

However, he said no one has been arrested in connection with the recovery so far.

A case has been registered and a hunt is on to nab the militants who are believed to have dumped the weapons in the area for later use, he said, adding that the arms and ammunition could have been used for carrying out an attack.

The recovery comes close on the heels of two militant attacks on security forces in south Kashmir over the past two days.

On Monday night, militants ambushed a BSF party injuring eight personnel, including an officer in Pampore area. A head constable of Railway Protection Force was shot dead by militants in nearby Awantipora area on Tuesday.

Security has been beefed up across Kashmir ahead of the Independence Day to foil any attempt by militants to disrupt the celebrations.